2020 SUBSCRIPTION EVENTS
October, November, and December, 2020
Streamed video events to enjoy from the comfort of your own home
2020 SUBSCRIBER SUITE
While we can’t perform live in the Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center, Music Director and Conductor Stephen Alltop has reimagined the first half of the 2020-21 season to bring the music to you online. CUSO concerts will be performed by an orchestra of strings, percussion, keyboard, and brass musicians, who are performing together safely as we follow the recommended COVID-19 safety protocols. Join CUSO as we keep the music playing to celebrate the talents of local musicians and the uplifting power of music!
The 2020 “Subscriber Suite” features five online events for you to enjoy in the comfort of your home during October, November, and December:
Welcome Back Pops! The Strings Sing Concert
Streamed on Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. and available to view through Sunday
Afterglow Live! with Stephen Alltop
Friday, October 23 at 8:30 p.m.
After the Pops concert, CUSO Suite Subscribers are invited to gather with CUSO friends for Afterglow Live! Enjoy the conversation and some delightful surprises as Conductor Stephen Alltop hosts this live soiree event by Zoom.
Give Thanks for Music
Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m.
As we face this challenging time, the search for optimism and hope begins with gratitude. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, CUSO invites you to join Music Director and Conductor Stephen Alltop for a special presentation to give thanks for music. As the leader of several preeminent music organizations, Stephen is immersed in the world of music. He teaches at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music and is Director of Music for the Alice Millar Chapel there. Stephen also serves as Music Director and Conductor for the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. Stephen will share his reflections about how music inspires and unites us, as he presents highlights from several of his recent artistic collaborations and performances, including these works:
Barber’s Adagio for Strings
Monteverdi’s Opera Orfeo (reimagined as a film)
J. S. Bach’s “Air” from Orchestral Suite No. 3
J. S. Bach’s “Bist du bei mir”
“Give Thanks for Music” is a live Zoom event hosted by Stephen Alltop. After the live Zoom, a video recording of the event will be available for viewing through Sunday, November 22.
Holiday Magic Concert
Streamed on Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. and available to view through Sunday
Afterglow Live! Holiday Zoom with Stephen Alltop
Thursday, December 10 at 8:30 p.m.
After the Holiday Magic concert, CUSO Suite Subscribers are invited to join Stephen Alltop and friends for some holiday cheer at our live Afterglow soiree hosted on Zoom.
TICKETS
You only need to purchase one ticket/link per household. Email address is required; order confirmations and event links will be sent by email.
SUBSCRIBER SUITE (all five online events): $100.00
CONCERTS: $25.00 each
The October 23 Welcome Back Pops! concert and the December 10 Holiday Magic concert may also be purchased individually.
TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE:
Buy Tickets
Individual Welcome Back Pops! Concert:
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Individual Holiday Magic Concert:
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WELCOME BACK POPS! THE STRINGS SING
Friday, October 23, 2020 | 7:30 p.m.
Streamed video concert to enjoy from the comfort of your own home


WILLIAMS arr. LONGFIELD: Themes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens
HURWITZ arr. LONGFIELD: Music from La La Land
LLOYD WEBBER arr. LOWDEN: The Music of the Night from “The Phantom of the Opera”
arr. NAUGHTIN: Looney Tunes Fugue
LENNON and MCCARTNEY arr. LONGFIELD: Yesterday
HARRISON arr. CHRIST: Here Comes the Sun
GERSHWIN arr. NAUGHTIN: Variations on “I Got Rhythm”
ALBENIZ arr. NAUGHTIN: Asturias (Leyenda)
BERNSTEIN arr. LONGFIELD: Mambo from “West Side Story”
The strings of the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra take center stage to play favorites from Broadway, the silver screen, and The Beatles. From “West Side Story” to “Star Trek,” “Looney Tunes” to “La La Land,” enjoy the rich sound of CUSO musicians together again. Enjoy the Pops! concert with your family from the comfort of your own home. The video will be streamed on Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. The concert link will be available for 48 hours through Sunday, October 25.
Each Concert Ticket/Link: $25
TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE:
Buy Tickets
HOLIDAY MAGIC
Thursday, December 10, 2020 | 7:30 p.m.
Video concert streamed December 10–13 to enjoy from the comfort of your home


Carl Alexander, countertenor
Katelyn Lee, soprano
Maria Arrua, violin
Central Illinois Youth Chorus, Andrea Solya, Conductor
University of Illinois Oratorio Society, Andrew Megill, Conductor
LEONTOVICH arr. MCNEFF: Carol of the Bells
arr. FRY: Go Tell It on the Mountain
VIVALDI: “Laudate pueri” RV 601
VIVALDI: Violin Concerto in F Minor (“Winter” from The Four Seasons)
VIVALDI: “Laudamus te” from Gloria
arr. NAUGHTIN: Bell Carol/In dulci jubilo
MACGIMSEY arr. FRY: Sweet Little Jesus Boy
ANDERSON: Sleigh Ride
MOZART: Dona nobis pacem
arr. SNEDECOR: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
CUSO continues our annual holiday tradition with this magical concert for the whole family. Enjoy the sublime sounds of Vivaldi, beautiful carols, stellar voices, and brilliant brass. The soaring soprano voice of Katelyn Lee performing Vivaldi’s sacred music will bring a quiet joy. Countertenor Carl Alexander returns to perform the moving “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” with CUSO. Concertmaster Maria Arrua helps to usher in chilly weather with “Winter” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Enjoy the regal sounds of our brass quintet performing Carol of the Bells. CUSO is delighted to host the angelic voices of the Central Illinois Youth Chorus, joined by singers from the Oratorio Society, for a magical performance of Dona nobis pacem. As always, Santa will be stopping by to take us on a Sleigh Ride!
Enjoy the Holiday Magic concert from the comfort of your home. The video will be streamed on Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will be available for 72 hours through Sunday, December 13.
Each Concert Ticket/Link: $25
TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE:
Purchase tickets online through 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 13:
Buy Tickets
2021 EVENTS
Spring Semester, 2021
Streamed video events to enjoy from the comfort of your own home
